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Presented_by 

 

 The LightWave Tutorial Review of The Lightwave 8 Signature Courseware by Dan Ablan 

 

Product Name : Signature Courseware
Author : Dan Ablan
Publisher : 3D Garage

Cost : US $289.00 (Discounts may apply if you own previous versions)
(Cost is as of February 2005 - prices subject to change)
Media Type :
DVD (2 DVD set)
Target Audience :
Beginner
Size : 18 hours of video tutorials (87 separate videos in all) Quicktime format (so its PC and MAC compatible)
       
Index  

The index is just too large to put up here but you can view a full index of each DVD on the 3D Garage website.

 
Review  

If you have just installed LightWave 8 and checked out the almost 1600 page manual you quickly realize that this program will take some time to really learn it well.  LightWave is packed with a lot of stuff to learn.  I can remember when I installed LightWave on my computer for the first time and I wished at that time that I had something or someone who could walk me through the basics to get me on my way.  The manual is helpful to be sure but it can also be a little daunting if the basics of 3D are still new to you.  What I always wished for was a kindly soul to sit down next to me and guide me through things, give me little push, as it were and then set me off on my own course.  For those who already own LightWave and have just upgraded to version 8.0 then the same principles also apply, you need someone who can show you where the new tools are and what they do.

Well, if this is you then this is the course for you.  Dan, the author, sounds like a good friend who had just come over and is willing to patiently teach you the basics of LightWave.  He has a great easy going, sometimes humorous approach to teaching and it immediately puts the student at ease.  Not only are you going to learn but it's actually going to be fun too!

The first few (20) videos deal with a walkthrough of both Modeller and Layout (the two parts of LightWave) and then progresses with instruction on basic modelling, lighting and surfacing techniques.  Most of the basic panels and a few tools are discussed. Dan walks you through each interface in a logical manner and points out the tools and areas that every beginner needs to know about.

The next section of  (16) videos deals with creating a Chandelier.  The chandelier videos expand on the initiation to LightWave by having you use a variety of tools to create different aspects of the light fixture including modelling, texturing, lighting and rendering.  Dan's approach is very similar to his books (he is the author of Inside LightWave 8 and many others) in that he shows you the basics of the tool(s) and shows you a few ways in which the tool(s) can be used while giving you suggestions about future uses of that tool.  He then lets you progress on your own, use your own imagination and creativity to really understand what he is teaching.  In the case of the Chandelier you will start from scratch and end with a finished render of the chandelier.  A lot of ground is covered in these videos so it would be wise for a beginner to start playing around with the techniques learned here.

Lighting is discussed further with the creation of a "Disco Ball" and then Volumetrics (foggy lighting effects) are introduced.  The student gets a feel for what is possible with lighting in LightWave.

Following the lighting tutorials are a variety of videos that get into basic bone/rigging fundamentals covering areas such as basic bone creation using both skelegons in Modeller and Bone drawing in Layout, setting up parent/child hierarchies, weighting of a model for use with bones and IK (Inverse Kinematic) fundamentals as well.  There is also a couple of videos that explores modelling of a character.  If you have no idea what all this means (if you are new to LightWave don't worry there's a lot to cover) then these videos will get you on your way.  Further into the course (near the end) there is a lot more coverage on bones and rigging as you get to actually rig a character.  IKBoost is also introduced for manipulating the rig.  Using dynamics with bones are also covered later in the course but in this case it is to rig a tree to move in the wind.

For a change of pace Dan then gets into logo creation (4 videos).  Here you learn to use fonts in Modeller and model a logo, surface and texture it, add interest to the backdrop, use three point lighting and even use dynamics to create an interesting logo treatment.  There is a lot for the beginner here.

Creating atmospheres, rain and smoke are the focus of the next 6 videos.  Skytracer and other techniques are used to created skies and atmospheric backdrops.  Hypervoxels and Particles are used to create rain falling on a car and smoke effects. To put a landscape into the scene Dan discusses displacements.

Following all of that are a variety of videos that begin to explore LightWave's extensive dynamics system  including hard dynamics (using a falling cup), cloth dynamics (using a cloth, of course) soft dynamics (again using the cup but making it a "jello cup") and hardlink (waving about a length of metal chain).

There is also a series of videos that explore creating a glass surface/texture.

These videos do not get too in-depth into any facet of LightWave, rather they are intended to get you up and running, get you started with a broad knowledge of most of the tools in LightWave.  Each one of the topics discussed in these videos could easily be a full set of in-depth tutorials that could span many many DVD's.  The intention of the Signature Courseware is to give you enough of an introduction into the world of LightWave that you will begin exploring yourself with enough knowledge about the program, the interface, and the toolset that you be confident in forging ahead.

I found this set of videos to be excellent and covers a lot of ground.  The videos are crisp and clean, the sound syncs up very well and is generally very clear.  Dan is relaxed and humorous without it being distracting and you actually learn some things along the way. If you want to get a feel for what the video training is like hop on over to 3D Garage and check out some of the sample videos they have up on the web site.  The only thing I think that might be a negative about the course is it's price.  $289.00 is a lot of money.  I asked Dan about this and he responded "We've heard from many people that the price is very affordable given the amount of information on the discs, as well as the presentation of them.  I've yet to hear from anyone that they thought the course was too expensive.  Most wish they had it earlier."  

Dan does offer personal support either from direct email or from the forums for the series over at the LightWave Group.   I can tell you from experience that he responds very quickly and is very willing to help and resolve issues that you may have. Dan is very approachable, very knowledgeable and is a great supporter of the LightWave community.  Dan's personal support is certainly worth a lot so this helps make the course a good value for the money you are paying.

 

 
Value   I personally believe you learn faster with video tutorials rather than reading a book.  Having the instant feedback of the video shows the student exactly where things are and what they do.  The cost of this set is higher than most of the books out there on the same subject but I believe that this course will get you started with LightWave a lot faster so its up to you if that is worth your money.  
       
Final Score   Recommended for beginners.

A-

       
Final Words   I only wish I had something like this when I was first starting out.  
       
       

 

   
 
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